1.
Ireland
–
Ireland is an island in the North Atlantic. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, Ireland is the second-largest island of the British Isles, the third-largest in Europe, and the twentieth-largest on Earth. Politically, Ireland is divided between the Republic of Ireland, which covers five-sixths of the island, and Northern Ireland, in 2011, the population of Ireland was about 6.4 million, ranking it the second-most populous island in Europe after Great Britain. Just under 4.6 million live in the Republic of Ireland, the islands geography comprises relatively low-lying mountains surrounding a central plain, with several navigable rivers extending inland. The island has lush vegetation, a product of its mild, thick woodlands covered the island until the Middle Ages. As of 2013, the amount of land that is wooded in Ireland is about 11% of the total, there are twenty-six extant mammal species native to Ireland. The Irish climate is moderate and classified as oceanic. As a result, winters are milder than expected for such a northerly area, however, summers are cooler than those in Continental Europe. Rainfall and cloud cover are abundant, the earliest evidence of human presence in Ireland is dated at 10,500 BC. Gaelic Ireland had emerged by the 1st century CE, the island was Christianised from the 5th century onward. Following the Norman invasion in the 12th century, England claimed sovereignty over Ireland, however, English rule did not extend over the whole island until the 16th–17th century Tudor conquest, which led to colonisation by settlers from Britain. In the 1690s, a system of Protestant English rule was designed to materially disadvantage the Catholic majority and Protestant dissenters, with the Acts of Union in 1801, Ireland became a part of the United Kingdom. Northern Ireland saw much civil unrest from the late 1960s until the 1990s and this subsided following a political agreement in 1998. In 1973 the Republic of Ireland joined the European Economic Community while the United Kingdom, Irish culture has had a significant influence on other cultures, especially in the fields of literature. Alongside mainstream Western culture, an indigenous culture exists, as expressed through Gaelic games, Irish music. The culture of the island shares many features with that of Great Britain, including the English language, and sports such as association football, rugby, horse racing. The name Ireland derives from Old Irish Eriu and this in turn derives from Proto-Celtic *Iveriu, which is also the source of Latin Hibernia. Iveriu derives from a root meaning fat, prosperous, during the last glacial period, and up until about 9000 years ago, most of Ireland was covered with ice, most of the time

2.
Henry VIII of England
–
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. Henry was the second Tudor monarch, succeeding his father, Henry VII, Henry is best known for his six marriages and, in particular, his efforts to have his first marriage, to Catherine of Aragon, annulled. Despite his resulting excommunication, Henry remained a believer in core Catholic theological teachings, domestically, Henry is known for his radical changes to the English Constitution, ushering in the theory of the divine right of kings to England. Besides asserting the supremacy over the Church of England, he greatly expanded royal power during his reign. Charges of treason and heresy were commonly used to quash dissent, and he achieved many of his political aims through the work of his chief ministers, some of whom were banished or executed when they fell out of his favour. Thomas Wolsey, Thomas More, Thomas Cromwell, Richard Rich and his contemporaries considered Henry in his prime to be an attractive, educated, and accomplished king, and he has been described as one of the most charismatic rulers to sit on the English throne. He was an author and composer, as he aged, Henry became severely obese and his health suffered, contributing to his death in 1547. He is frequently characterised in his life as a lustful, egotistical, harsh. He was succeeded by his son Edward VI, born 28 June 1491 at the Palace of Placentia in Greenwich, London, Henry Tudor was the third child and second son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. Of the young Henrys six siblings, only three – Arthur, Prince of Wales, Margaret, and Mary – survived infancy and he was baptised by Richard Fox, the Bishop of Exeter, at a church of the Observant Franciscans close to the palace. In 1493, at the age of two, Henry was appointed Constable of Dover Castle and Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. He was subsequently appointed Earl Marshal of England and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland at age three, and was inducted into the Order of the Bath soon after. The day after the ceremony he was created Duke of York, in May 1495, he was appointed to the Order of the Garter. Henry was given an education from leading tutors, becoming fluent in Latin and French. Not much is known about his early life – save for his appointments – because he was not expected to become king, as Duke of York, Henry used the arms of his father as king, differenced by a label of three points ermine. In 1502, Arthur died at the age of 15 of sweating sickness, Arthurs death thrust all his duties upon his younger brother, the 10-year-old Henry. After a little debate, Henry became the new Duke of Cornwall in October 1502, Henry VII gave the boy few tasks. Young Henry was strictly supervised and did not appear in public, as a result, the young Henry would later ascend the throne untrained in the exacting art of kingship

3.
Church of Ireland
–
The Church of Ireland is a Christian church in Ireland and an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. It is organised on a basis and is the second-largest Christian church on the island after the Catholic Church in Ireland. Like other Anglican churches, it has retained elements of pre-Reformation practice, notably its episcopal polity, nevertheless, in theological and liturgical matters, it incorporates many principles of the Reformation, particularly those espoused during the English Reformation. The church self identifies as being both Catholic and Reformed, within the church, differences exist between those members who are more Catholic-leaning and those who are more Protestant-leaning. For historical and cultural reasons, the Church of Ireland is generally identified as a Protestant church, the Church of Ireland is the second-largest in the Republic of Ireland, with around 130,000 members, and the third-largest in Northern Ireland, with around 260,000 members. The Church of Ireland describes itself as part of the Irish Church which was influenced by the Reformation. However, the Church of Ireland is also Protestant, or Reformed, since it opposes doctrines and ways of worshiping that it considers contrary to scripture and which led to the Reformation. When the Church of England broke communion with the Holy See, all, the church then became the established church of Ireland, assuming possession of most church property. This church-state link was vigorously applied when the Normans came to Ireland in the 12th century, Bishops were required to do homage to the king for their lands, just like earls and barons, who were vassals of the crown. It was therefore accepted, both during and after the Reformation, that the crown should continue to exercise authority over the church. In this way, church property that existed at the time of the Reformation, in Ireland, the substantial majority of the population continued to adhere to Roman Catholicism, despite the political and economic advantages of membership in the state church. Legitimacy for the Norman invasion of Ireland was derived from a Papal Bull of 1155 – Laudabiliter, the bull gave King Henry II of England authority to invade Ireland ostensibly as a means of reforming the church in Ireland more directly under the control of the Holy See. The authorisation from the Holy See was based upon the Donation of Constantine which made every Christian island in the western Roman Empire the property of the Papacy. The Church of Ireland is the second largest church in Ireland, the Church of Ireland began as a reformed church independent of the Catholic Church in 1536 when the Irish Parliament declared King Henry VIII to be the Supreme Head of the Church on earth. He would not legally become king of Ireland until 1541, adrian granted Henry II the Lordship of Ireland, thus, Henrys assumption of the title of King had less to do with dispossessing the native Irish kings than with confronting the Pope. The reformation commenced mainly in Dublin under the auspices of George Browne during Henrys reign, when the Church of England was reformed under King Edward VI of England, so too was the Church of Ireland. All but two of the Irish bishops appointed by Queen Mary accepted the Elizabethan Settlement, although the vast majority of priests, the Church of Ireland claims Apostolic succession because of the unbroken continuity of the episcopal hierarchy, however, this is disputed by the Roman Catholic Church. In this way, they were able to conform to the established church whilst at the same time continuing to worship. in the traditional

4.
Dublin
–
Dublin is the capital and largest city of Ireland. Dublin is in the province of Leinster on Irelands east coast, the city has an urban area population of 1,345,402. The population of the Greater Dublin Area, as of 2016, was 1,904,806 people, founded as a Viking settlement, the Kingdom of Dublin became Irelands principal city following the Norman invasion. The city expanded rapidly from the 17th century and was briefly the second largest city in the British Empire before the Acts of Union in 1800, following the partition of Ireland in 1922, Dublin became the capital of the Irish Free State, later renamed Ireland. Dublin is administered by a City Council, the city is listed by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network as a global city, with a ranking of Alpha-, which places it amongst the top thirty cities in the world. It is a historical and contemporary centre for education, the arts, administration, economy, the name Dublin comes from the Irish word Dubhlinn, early Classical Irish Dubhlind/Duibhlind, dubh /d̪uβ/, alt. /d̪uw/, alt /d̪u, / meaning black, dark, and lind /lʲiɲ pool and this tidal pool was located where the River Poddle entered the Liffey, on the site of the castle gardens at the rear of Dublin Castle. In Modern Irish the name is Duibhlinn, and Irish rhymes from Dublin County show that in Dublin Leinster Irish it was pronounced Duílinn /d̪ˠi, other localities in Ireland also bear the name Duibhlinn, variously anglicized as Devlin, Divlin and Difflin. Historically, scribes using the Gaelic script wrote bh with a dot over the b and those without knowledge of Irish omitted the dot, spelling the name as Dublin. Variations on the name are found in traditionally Irish-speaking areas of Scotland, such as An Linne Dhubh. It is now thought that the Viking settlement was preceded by a Christian ecclesiastical settlement known as Duibhlinn, beginning in the 9th and 10th century, there were two settlements where the modern city stands. Baile Átha Cliath, meaning town of the ford, is the common name for the city in modern Irish. Áth Cliath is a name referring to a fording point of the River Liffey near Father Mathew Bridge. Baile Átha Cliath was an early Christian monastery, believed to have been in the area of Aungier Street, there are other towns of the same name, such as Àth Cliath in East Ayrshire, Scotland, which is Anglicised as Hurlford. Although the area of Dublin Bay has been inhabited by humans since prehistoric times and he called the settlement Eblana polis. It is now thought that the Viking settlement was preceded by a Christian ecclesiastical settlement known as Duibhlinn, beginning in the 9th and 10th century, there were two settlements where the modern city stands. The subsequent Scandinavian settlement centred on the River Poddle, a tributary of the Liffey in an area now known as Wood Quay, the Dubhlinn was a small lake used to moor ships, the Poddle connected the lake with the Liffey. This lake was covered during the early 18th century as the city grew, the Dubhlinn lay where the Castle Garden is now located, opposite the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin Castle

5.
Society of Jesus
–
The Society of Jesus Latin, Societas Iesu, S. J. SJ or SI) is a religious congregation of the Catholic Church which originated in Spain. The society is engaged in evangelization and apostolic ministry in 112 nations on six continents, Jesuits work in education, intellectual research, and cultural pursuits. Jesuits also give retreats, minister in hospitals and parishes, and promote social justice, Ignatius of Loyola founded the society after being wounded in battle and experiencing a religious conversion. He composed the Spiritual Exercises to help others follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, ignatiuss plan of the orders organization was approved by Pope Paul III in 1540 by a bull containing the Formula of the Institute. Ignatius was a nobleman who had a background, and the members of the society were supposed to accept orders anywhere in the world. The Society participated in the Counter-Reformation and, later, in the implementation of the Second Vatican Council, the Society of Jesus is consecrated under the patronage of Madonna Della Strada, a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and it is led by a Superior General. The Society of Jesus on October 3,2016 announced that Superior General Adolfo Nicolás resignation was officially accepted, on October 14, the 36th General Congregation of the Society of Jesus elected Father Arturo Sosa as its thirty-first Superior General. The headquarters of the society, its General Curia, is in Rome, the historic curia of St. Ignatius is now part of the Collegio del Gesù attached to the Church of the Gesù, the Jesuit Mother Church. In 2013, Jorge Mario Bergoglio became the first Jesuit Pope, the Jesuits today form the largest single religious order of priests and brothers in the Catholic Church. As of 1 January 2015, Jesuits numbered 16,740,11,986 clerics regular,2,733 scholastics,1,268 brothers and 753 novices. In 2012, Mark Raper S. J. wrote, Our numbers have been in decline for the last 40 years—from over 30,000 in the 1960s to fewer than 18,000 today. The steep declines in Europe and North America and consistent decline in Latin America have not been offset by the significant increase in South Asia, the Society is divided into 83 Provinces with six Independent Regions and ten Dependent Regions. On 1 January 2007, members served in 112 nations on six continents with the largest number in India and their average age was 57.3 years,63.4 years for priests,29.9 years for scholastics, and 65.5 years for brothers. The current Superior General of the Jesuits is Arturo Sosa, the Society is characterized by its ministries in the fields of missionary work, human rights, social justice and, most notably, higher education. It operates colleges and universities in countries around the world and is particularly active in the Philippines. In the United States it maintains 28 colleges and universities and 58 high schools and he ensured that his formula was contained in two papal bulls signed by Pope Paul III in 1540 and by Pope Julius III in 1550. The formula expressed the nature, spirituality, community life and apostolate of the new religious order, the meeting is now commemorated in the Martyrium of Saint Denis, Montmartre

6.
Richard Reade
–
Sir Richard Reade was an English-born judge in sixteenth-century Ireland, he held the office of Lord Chancellor of Ireland. He was born at Nether Wallop in Hampshire, second son of Richard Reade, Lord of the Manor of Wallop and he was educated at Winchester College and New College, Oxford, where he became a fellow in 1528. He took the degrees of Bachelor of Civil Law at Oxford in 1537 and he quickly acquired a reputation as a man of learning and experience. He was made a Master of Chancery and undertook a crucial mission to Flanders. In 1546 Sir John Alan, the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, was removed from office on a charge of corruption and he was granted a house in the precincts of St. Patricks Cathedral and the manor of Moyglare near Maynooth, County Kildare. In 1548 Alan was reinstated as Chancellor, Reade returned to England where he became Master of Requests. He later purchased the manors of Redbourn near St. Albans and he died in 1575 and was buried at St Marys Church, Redbourn. He was survived by three of his four sons and he left legacies to Winchester College and for the upkeep of the parish of Redbourn. Richards wife was Agnes Hamby of Brocklesby in Lincolnshire, as well as their four sons, ball praises Reade as a man of great learning, though OFlanagan adds that there was little work in the Lord Chancellors Court during his tenure of that office

7.
James Butler, 9th Earl of Ormond
–
James Butler, 9th Earl of Ormond and 2nd Earl of Ossory, known as The Lame, was the son of Piers Butler, 8th Earl of Ormond and Margaret Fitzgerald, Countess of Ormond. He was created, in 1535, Viscount Thurles, and was confirmed by Act of Parliament,6 November 1541, in the Earldom of Ormond and his death by poisoning in London remains an unsolved mystery. About 1520 James joined the household of Cardinal Wolsey, who praised him as a gentleman both wise and discreet. In early 1522, it was proposed by King Henry VIII that he marry his cousin Anne Boleyn and this was to resolve a dispute her father Thomas Boleyn had with James father Piers over the Ormond inheritance and title, Wolsey himself supported the proposal. The marriage negotiation, came to a halt for unknown reasons and he subsequently married Lady Joan Fitzgerald some time before 21 December 1532. Lady Joan was the daughter and heiress of the other great Munster landholder, James and Joan had seven sons, Thomas Butler, 10th Earl of Ormond, known as Black Tom Sir Edmund Butler of Cloughgrenan John Butler of Kilcash who married Katherine MacCartie, with issue. Hon. Edward Butler of Ballinahinch, married Mary Bourke who was the daughter of Richard Burke, 4th Earl of Clanricarde and they had a son, James Butler. St Leger gave Ormonde command of the Irish forces in the Anglo-Scottish War of 1544, on the face of it this was an honour, but allies of Ormond accused St Leger of deliberately sending Ormond into danger. Key Government allies of Ormond like John Alan and Walter Cowley were removed from office, on 17 October 1546, James had gone to London with many of his household. They were invited to dine at Ely Palace in Holborn and he was poisoned along with his steward, James Whyte, and 16 of his household. He died nine days later, on 28 October, leaving Joan a widow in her thirties and it is surprising, in view of Ormonds high social standing, that no proper investigation into his death was carried out. His host at the dinner, John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland, a recent historian remarks that it would be an extraordinary coincidence if St Leger had no part in the sudden and convenient removal of his main Irish opponent. Butler dynasty Hore Abbey Kells Priory which came into the Earls possession in March 1540 following the Dissolution of the monasteries, the Six Wives of Henry VIII. pp. 121–124. Lives of illustrious and distinguished Irishmen, from the earliest times to the present period, dublin, MacGregor, Polson & Co. pp. 471–473

8.
Thomas Butler, 10th Earl of Ormond
–
He was Lord Treasurer of Ireland and a very prominent personage during the latter part of the 16th century. He built the Tudor Manor House extension to Ormonde Castle on his estates in Carrick-on-Suir, much of his life was taken up with a fierce feud with his hereditary foe, Gerald FitzGerald, 15th Earl of Desmond, son of James FitzGerald, 14th Earl of Desmond. The two sides fought a battle in 1565, the Battle of Affane. Butlers victory, not only in the field but also in the handling the political fallout and this struggle desolated Munster for many years. They were cousins, related through her mother, Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth called him her ‘black husband’. In 1588 the Queen bestowed on Ormond what a poet described as áirdchéim Ridireacht Gáirtéir, Ormond built a Tudor style castle along the river Suir, which he decorated lavishly and even had red brick chimneys built on, which, at the time, were very expensive. All of this was for one reason, to provide Elizabeth with a palace at which to stay when she traveled to Ireland. Elizabeth planned twice to visit the Castle in Ireland, once in 1602, but she fell sick, and once in 1603, but she died soon before the visit was scheduled to take place. One does know, however, that Elizabeth appreciated Thomass gift, Thomas lived eleven years after Elizabeth died. He first married Elizabeth Berkeley, daughter of Thomas Berkeley, 6th Baron Berkeley and they separated in 1564 without issue. He then married Elizabeth Sheffield on 9 November 1582 at London and she was the daughter of John Sheffield, 2nd Baron Sheffield and Douglas, daughter of William Howard, 1st Baron Howard of Effingham. Her father Thomas, had executed her husbands two elder brothers for treason in 1596 and she married, secondly, Richard Preston, Baron Dingwall, and had one daughter, Elizabeth Preston. Thomas Butler In 1601 he married Helena Barry, daughter of David Fitz-James de Barry, 5th Viscount Buttevant, the Earl also had an illegitimate son, Piers FitzThomas Butler of Duisk who married Catherine Fleming, by whom he had a son, Edward Butler, 1st Viscount Galmoye. As the Earl died without legally recognised male issue, the Earldom reverted in the male line, to the junior branch of the family through his brother John Butler of Kilcash. Butler dynasty Edwards, David Butler, Thomas, tenth earl of Ormond and third earl of Ossory, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press,2004, online edition, May 2012. Doi,10. 1093/ref, odnb/4209 This article incorporates text from a now in the public domain, Chisholm, Hugh

9.
John Bathe (politician)
–
John Bathe was an Irish barrister and judge. He was a member of a famous dynasty, and had a distinguished career under the Tudors, holding office as Solicitor General for Ireland. He was a native of County Meath, a member of the long-established Anglo-Irish Bathe family whose seat was at Athcarne Castle. The family produced several distinguished judges and lawyers, his cousin James Bathe served as Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer under four monarchs. The family had claimed the title Baron Louth in the century, but their right to it was not recognised by the English Crown. He was at Lincolns Inn in 1536, and was called to the Bar in 1539 and he was in the service of the English Crown in Ireland by 1546, when he replaced Walter Cowley as Principal Solicitor for Ireland. In 1550, he became Kings Serjeant and Solicitor General and we do know that he had been highly thought of by the English Crown, being praised for knowledge of the laws of England, diligence, discretion and loyalty. He had at least two sons, his son was Sir William Bathe of Athcarne Castle, who was also a judge of the Court of Common Pleas. On Williams death Athcarne passed to his younger brother James, whose descendant, also called James, was a leading member of Confederate Ireland

10.
John Alan
–
Sir John Alan, or Alen was a leading English-born statesman in sixteenth century Ireland. He was a member of the Irish House of Commons, and held the offices of Master of the Rolls in Ireland, Chancellor of the Exchequer of Ireland, though he was childless himself, his relatives founded a prominent landowning dynasty in County Kildare and later acquired a baronetcy. He was born at Coltishall in Norfolk, son of Thomas Alen, the Alens were a numerous family and five of his brothers, of whom we know most about William and Thomas, also settled in Ireland. John Alen, Archbishop of Dublin, who was murdered in the Silken Thomas rebellion, was a relative of the judge. Just before the outbreak of Silken Thomass Rebellion, Alen and his brothers sent an urgent letter to London urging Thomass arrest, while the murder of their cousin Archbishop Alen was the most notorious act of the rebellion, neither John Alen nor his brothers seem to have suffered. Though by his own admission he was not a soldier he played part in suppressing the rebellion. Alen had already received his reward, St. Wolstans, near Celbridge, County Kildare, had suppressed in 1536. The Alen family remained at St. Wolstans for two centuries, kilteel also remained in the Alen family for centuries, the Castle, an excellent example of a medieval tower house, survives today. In 1538, on the death of John Barnewall, 3rd Baron Trimlestown, Alen became Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, even his enemies acknowledged that he was a hardworking and conscientious judge. However he quarrelled with the Lord Deputy of Ireland, Sir Anthony St. Leger, Alen was summoned before the English Privy Council and accused of corruption, as well as a rather vague charge of promoting discord. Alen strongly defended himself, saying he was the cleanest-handed Chancellor in the memory of man, whether he was guilty of corruption or simply the victim of St. Legers enmity it is difficult to say. Leger was accused of endangering the life of James Butler, 9th Earl of Ormond. He was deprived of his pension, yet a year later the Council ordered the restoration of all his property. In 1548 Alen regained the Lord Chancellorship, but on St. Legers return to power in 1550 he felt it best to retire, Alen however refused to repeat St. Legers words on the grounds that they had been spoken in confidence. In 1553 on the death of Edward VI his sister Mary I reappointed Alen to the Privy Council of Ireland, on a more personal note, the letter refers to his age and infirmity and urges that he not be required to undertake any long journeys. Alen died at his home at St. Wolstans in 1561 and was buried at Donoghcomper Church, a memorial was erected to him and an Alen family vault was later added. By his last will he left much of his property to his widow for her life, and after her death to his nephew John, Alen was closely associated with the foundation of the Kings Inns in 1541. Elrington Ball admits his good qualities, but adds that he was quarrelsome and undiplomatic, and not free from the suspicion of corruption

11.
Privy Council of England
–
The Privy Council of England, also known as His Majestys Most Honourable Privy Council, was a body of advisers to the sovereign of the Kingdom of England. Its members were often members of the House of Lords. The Privy Council of England was an institution, advising the Sovereign on the exercise of the Royal prerogative. It issued executive orders known as Orders in Council and also had judicial functions, during the reigns of the Norman monarchs, the English Crown was advised by a royal court, which consisted of magnates, clergy and officers of the Crown. This body originally concerned itself with advising the Sovereign on legislation, administration, later, different bodies assuming distinct functions evolved from the court. The courts of law took over the business of dispensing justice, nevertheless, the Council retained the power to hear legal disputes, either in the first instance or on appeal. Furthermore, laws made by the Sovereign on the advice of the Council, powerful Sovereigns often used the body to circumvent the courts and Parliament. During Henry VIIIs reign, the Sovereign, on the advice of the Council, was allowed to enact laws by mere proclamation, the legislative pre-eminence of Parliament was not restored until after Henry VIIIs death. Though the royal Council retained legislative and judicial responsibilities, it became an administrative body. The Council consisted of forty members in 1553, but the Sovereign relied on a smaller committee, the Council developed significantly during the reign of Elizabeth I, gaining political experience, so that there were real differences between the Privy Council of the 1560s and that of the 1600s. By the end of the English Civil War, the monarchy, House of Lords, the remaining house of Parliament, the House of Commons, instituted a Council of State to execute laws and to direct administrative policy. The forty-one members of the Council were elected by the Commons, the body was headed by Oliver Cromwell, in 1653, however, Cromwell became Lord Protector, and the Council was reduced to between thirteen and twenty-one members, all elected by the Commons. In 1657, the Commons granted Cromwell even greater powers, some of which were reminiscent of those enjoyed by monarchs, the Council became known as the Protectors Privy Council, its members were appointed by the Lord Protector, subject to Parliaments approval. In 1659, shortly before the restoration of the monarchy, the Protectors Council was abolished, charles II restored the royal Privy Council, but he, like previous Stuart monarchs, chose to rely on a small committee of advisers. The Acts of Union 1707 united England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain, during the reign of Elizabeth I, the Council is recorded under the title The Queens Majesties most Honourable Privy-Council. The Sovereign, when acting on the Councils advice, was known as the King-in-Council or Queen-in-Council, the members of the Council were collectively known as The Lords of His Majestys Most Honourable Privy Council, or sometimes The Lords and others of. ). The chief officer of the body was the Lord President of the Council, another important official was the Clerk, whose signature was appended to all orders made. Membership was generally for life, although the death of a monarch brought an immediate dissolution of the Council, the Privy Council of England was one of the four principal councils of the Sovereign